The original Fresno High School

Then:
Picture postcard of the old Fresno High School building, circa 1896, on O Street between Stanislaus and Tuolumne streets.

By the time Fresno’s first high school graduating class took the stage at the old Barton Opera House in 1891, the seven students were well-schooled in English, science, history, math and four years of Latin.

They left behind three teachers and a principal — T.L. Heaton, who was also superintendent of Fresno City Schools.
But what they didn’t have was a school building. The original Fresno High School was a concept, not a place. It began 1889 on the second story of the old K Street School (later Emerson Elementary). A crumbling ceiling sent the teens to the Congregational Church, and later to a commercial building with a store and a bathhouse.

They moved temporarily to the Central School, also called White School, where Memorial Auditorium stands today. And finally, in 1896, Fresno’s first high school opened its doors.

The school was built on a city block bought for $7,750 on O Street, between Tuolumne and Stanislaus streets. There were complaints that it was too far out of town.

But it was a sight to behold. The grand, three-story brick and concrete structure, imposing in the classic Romanesque/Renaissance Revival style, must have made quite a statement.

It was finished at a cost of $53,000, with a capacity of 400 students. Its signature clock tower, which had ornate turrets, stood four stories over the campus. The school featured a library, chemistry lab, gymnasium and a lecture hall, which also served as a theater.

“We have one of the best high school buildings in the state,” Heaton said upon its completion. The planning of the building was said to have been almost entirely his work.

Even with additions between 1910 and 1917, the school became overcrowded. This wasn’t too surprising since it shared space with Fresno Junior College starting in 1910, and Fresno Normal School, later Fresno State College, in 1911.

Soon it was time for a new campus for just the high school, and a classically designed million-dollar school opened in 1921 on Echo Avenue, where it remains today.

The old O Street campus became Fresno Technical High, with classes still held by Fresno Junior College. The building was eventually condemned as a “firetrap,” abandoned in 1952 and demolished a year later. A car dealership, Frontier Chevrolet, moved to the site in 1961.

Today the location is home to Cesar E. Chavez Adult Education Center. The section of O Street that the old building faced is now the parking lot.

John Walker/The Fresno Bee

Now:
On the site of the original Fresno High School building, is the Cesar E. Chavez Adult Educational Center.

Comments

Love the story of Fresno high School. Never knew about the first school building. Good information.

Comment posted on July 13, 2013

Nancy Edwards said:

I graduated from Fresno high school in 1970 and have many fond memories.

Comment posted on July 13, 2013

Mike Kraemer (Grad 1965) said:

I was with the 101st. Air Born Combat Rainger in Viet Viet at the end of 66 all of 67 and most of 68 .I returned to Fresno in 69 and married Carole Hartman. we moved to Hanford in73. We have two sons and five grand kids. Both of my sons are in law. Daron the youngest (37) he is the chief investigator for the Kings county DA’s office. Jon the oldest (40) is a Lt. For Corrections in Avenal . I am 3 Times retired and spend most of my time at the Veterains Hosptial in Fresno And San Francisco. I got spayed with Agent Orange in Viet Nam in 1967 and it took until 2009 before the Gov. Would step up and take the blam. After open heart surgery , 7 stents , 2 angieaplastic , 9 bypasses and 12 Ulnare nerve releases. In 2012 the Gov. Finally paid me off. 150 percent disabled . I also suffer from PTSD,hearing loss , tendinitis and a speech problem from a stroke and numbness down my left side. I am working with the Veterians affairs and some Vets from around the states to get us a Purple Heart for being sprayed by Agent Orange . I would of rather been shot than live like this.It is like self Iflecked because the NVA didn’t spray us , the US Congress ordered it done . The VA’s (HEAD) Doctor in SanFrancisco tells us with PTSD to stay away from the past and today I see the OLD Fresno High on my ipad , and this morning I saw a OLD student in the bath room mirror. Will thanks for your time you saved me a session, no worry VA picks up the tab for everything. Later

Comment posted on August 12, 2013

Rosalina Thea Louangprasert said:

I am a student here in Fresno High School. My second year now. This school is beautiful and historical. I’d love to know about it from past years and until now..